Method and apparatus for spinning bridge cables



March 7 1933. c. c. SUNDERLJAND BRIDGE CABLES Filed Jan. 9, 1951 INVENTOR ZM v a bridge cable and specifically pointed Patented Mar. 7 I933 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINN IN G BRIDGE GABLES Application filed January 9, 1931.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for s inning parallel wire cables, and is especial y, applicable to spinning the cables of although applicable in connection with other cables.

Bridge cables have previously been. spun by drawing across the span a spinning wheel carrying a loop of the cable wire, which cable wire is pulled by the spinning wheel from a wire supply reel, and the tension and speed of the reel have been controlled by a work- %an with ke on the supply reel.

speed, as it is diflicult to brake uniformly. This method also puts an objectionable strain he wire in rotating th 1.

by t e spinning wheel permitted, by a take-up consisting of a floating counterweight sheave or roll on the cable wire between the supply reel and spinning wheel, which serves also,

by its position, the operator as to any change required in the speed of "the driven-supply reel.

For a full understanding of the invention embodyin the apparatus features of the invention wifi now be given in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and the features forming the invention then out in th The drawing is a diagrammatic side elevation of so much of a cable spinning apparatus as is requiredto illustrate the invention.

In the drawing, a is the traction rope, Z; the

suspension bridges,

of th as in previous bridge cab speed s n'ai No. 507,742.

sheaves 10, 11 and the cable wire loop as d passing around the sheave 12, it being understood that the other he anchorage as in the common'method of spinning bridge ca- Referring now to the novel features of the present invention, cable wire 0 is fed from the wire supply reel 13, passing over sheave 14 then downward around floating sheave or roll 15, shown as carrying a suitable counter weight 16, and then upward over sheave 17 to sheave 12 and the spinning wheel I). The sheaves 14 to 17 are shown skel that this is immaterial. Th reel 13, instead of being rotated by the e cable wire 0 and e wire supply pull reel is driven by a belt 19 from a variable transmission 20, shown as driven by electric motor 21 and belt 22. he variable speed transmission may be of any suitable type, such as the well-known hydraulic variable speed transmission, fully shown and described in United States Letters Patent to Williams, N 0. 1,539,616. The control shaft 23, with hand wheel 24, by which the speed of the supply reel 13 is controlled through the adjustment of the speed transmission, is shown as extending upward so that the operavation of the floating sheave 15, the position of which advises him as to the variation in reel speed required to maintain the proper wire feed.

he invention as defined at is claimed is:

The method of spinning-cables which wines to form the cable y moving a loop carrying spinning 'wheel cable, positively. feeding the cable wire to the spinning whee wire to the spinning wheel, speed of such feed to secure the desired relation of the feed to the spinning 2. lhe method of spinning cables whic consists in laying the wires to f ble by moving a loop carrying spinning wheel along the cable, positively feeding the cable and maintaining the wire tension by a floating counterbalance on the cable wire between the supply reel an spinning wheel and varying wire feed to the counterbalance. I

3. lhe combination with the spinning wheel and traction rope of a cable spinning apparatus, of a supply reel carrying the cable wire, and variable speed driving means for rota ing said reel to supply the wire to the spinning wheel in the travel of the latter. 4. lhe combination with the spinning wheel and traction rope of a cable spinning a paratus, of a supply reel carrying t e cable wire, variable speed driving means for rotating said reel to supply the wire spinning w the latter, and a floating tension roll between the supply reel and spinning whee 5. The combination with the spinning wheel and traction rope of a cable spinning apparatus, of a sup ly reel ble wire, variable speed driving means for rotating said reel to supply the wire tothe spinning wheel in the travel ing tension roll on the wire between the su ply reel and spinning wheel, and manual y operated means for varying the speed of the driving means and supply sition for observation of the position of t floating tension roll by the operator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my ha d. CHARLES C. SUNDERLAND.

the speed of the to the carrying the caof the latter, a float reel located in po- 

